Pneumatically operated guillotine



an. 12, 1965 E. G, TTTT ER 3,165,021

Jan. 12, 1965 E. G. TELFER PNEUMATICALLY OPERATED GuILLoTINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed sept. 18, 1961 Jan. 12, 1965 E. G. TELFER 3,165,021

PNEUMATICALLY OPERATED GUILLOTINE Filed Sept. 18, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent O 3,165,t}21 PNEUMATTCALLY OPIER TED GUILLGTINE Edward Grantley Telfer, hfonash, South Australia, Australia Filed Sept. 18, 1961, Ser. No. 138,852 8 Claiins. tCl. 83-39tl) This nvention relates to a pneumatically operated guillotine and more particularly to a guillotine Which may be used for the purpose of shearing sheet metal.

The usual existing guillotine is mechanically operated and makes use of an electric motor and clutch and other mechanical gear which makes the cost somewhat considerable. The main object of this invention is to provide a guillotine which will be substantially low in cost.

In its simplest form, the invention consists of a pneumatically operated guillotine which comprises a frame, pneumatic cylinders on the frame, a blade Supporting member movable on the frame and linked to the pneumatic cylinders, a moving guillotine blade on the blade Supporting member, a fixed guillotine blade on the frame, and a foot operated air valve operable to actuate the pneumatic cylinders to thereby urge the moving blade past the fixed blade.

With pneumatically operated machines of the type Which require to apply a large force which can be suddenly relased, as for example, a guillotine, one of the problems which is encountered is the tendency for the air in the pneumatic cylinder to suddenly expand and apply high forces which on sudden release permit the guillotine or other machine to become damaged because of the inertia. One of the features of this invention is that it becomes possible to provide a means whereby these inertia forces can .be kept within limits which will not be deleterious to the mechanical Components of the machine.

For the invention to be more clearly understood it will be described with further detail with reference to an embodiment which is illustrated in the accornpanying drawings in which:

VEIG. l is a perspective view of a machine constructed according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a cross-section of same, taken on a plane just inside an end sheet,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one of the blade arm pivotal mountings,

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one of the rocker shaft pivotal mountings, and

FIG. 5 is a sohematic layout of the air circuit.

According to this embodiment a frame 1 comprises a pair of end Sheets 2 of heavy gauge metal cut to shape, these end sheets 2 being interconnected along the front by a front panel 3 also of heavy gauge sheet steel, and at the rear end towards the lower part of the end Sheets 2, a large diameter (in this embodiment being six inches) pipe 4 is sealably connected at its ends to the end plates 2 of the frame 1 and the pipe 4 then comprises an air receiver. This pipe 4 is fitted with two pairs of upstanding lugs 6, a pair disposed towards each end of the machine, and each pair of upstanding lugs 6 provides a trunnion mounting for a large cylinder 7, in this embodiment the cylinder being six inches in diameter and about twelve inches stroke.

A rocker shaft 3 comprises a tubular member with a pair of outstanding spigots one at each end, each spigot rotationally engaging a bearing block 10, the height of which can be adjusted by the nuts 11 engaging the lug 12 on the end plate 2. The bearing block is clamped to the end plate 2 by a clamp plate 13. The rocker shaft 8 parallel to and in front of the air receiver 4 and long lever arms interconnect the rocker shaft 8 with the cylinders, so that when the cylinders 7 operate the rocker shaft 8 is rotated in the bearing blocks ll).

ICC

A pair of short arms 16 project forwardly from the rocker shaft 8 and are interconnected by means of links 17 to a blade arm 19 which is journalled by the bearings 20 to inturned spigots 21 on the mounting plates 22 which are bolted through slotted holes 24 for adjustment purposes to the end plates 2 of the frame 1. The use of long lever arms 15 comb-ined with short arms 16, and the links 17, constitute a pressure multiplying system between the air cylinder 7 and the blade arm 19. This assists in reducing the Sudden effect caused by built up air pressure in the cylinders expanding on completion of a cut, since a small movement in the blade arm 19 corresponds with a large movement of the piston rods of the cylinders.

The front of the blade arm 19 is connected by a bridge member 26 of steel plate of substantial depth, and this bridge member 26 adjustably supports a moving guillotine blade 27 which co-operates With a fixed guillotine blade 28, the fixed guillotine blade 28 being fixed to the frame above the front transversely disposed panel 3 of the frame 1.

Each of the blade arms carries a plurality of pins 39 to which return Springs 31 are connected, the other ends (not shown) of the return Springs 31 being connected to pins on the end plates 2.

The frame has a transverse clamp member 33 between the end plates 2 disposed above the fixed blade 28, and this transverse member 33 is surrounded by a number of spring return clamp loops 34 operable by an expansion air tube 35 to clamp a panel which is to be cut firmly on to the blade 23.

Adjustment of the moving blade 27 is achieved in two ways. In the first instance, the mounting plates 22 pivotally Supporting the blade arms 19 at each end of the machine can be moved rearwardly and forwardly by means of the slotted bolt holes 24. Besides this, the blade itself is secured to the bridge member by means of a plurality of clamping bolts 36, each clamping bolt 36 drawing the blade inwardly to the bridge member 26, but on each side of the clamping bolt, an adjusting bolt 37 tlireaded into the bridge member is urged against the inner face of the moving blade 27 so that the blade 27 can be adjusted both angularly and for spacing from the fixed blade 23 at a plurality of points along its length.

A triple single acting air Valve 40 is connected to the air receiver 4 and is arranged so that pressure air is introduced to the air clamp air tube 35 at the locality of the fixed blade then to one of the air cylinders 7 and finally to the second air cylinder 7, thus ensuring clamping of the panel before any cut takes place. If desired, a mechanical stop may be located beneath the foot pedal which operates the air Valve through the linkage gear Whereby the air can be introduced only to the first of the two air cylinders, so that in the case of cuts on thin gange metal, these can be achieved Without wastage of air.

In order to prevent damage to the mechanical parts at the end of `the cut due to Sudden release of the forces involved, the air cylinders 7 are of the double acting type, and the piston rod sides of the cylinders are coupled together and bleed through a throttle Valve 42 to a silencer 43. In order to assist in the return of the blade after a cut, a one-way valve 45 is connected from the valve exhaust to the exhaust side of the cylinders 7, the exhaust air in this manner being fed to the return side of the cylinders as well as being fed to the silencer and since the air is fed through a one-way valve it will be seen that the moment the pressure .on the exhaust side of the valve drops below the pressure on the piston rod side of the cylinders the valve will close and the expansion of air will be effective in urging the cylinders back to their normal position, but this air can again bleed through the needle Valve to the silencer so that little or no resistance is oifered by the time the machine is ready .in many ways.

for its next cut. Rubber buffer blocks can be mounted on the rear of front panel 3, such that plates fixed to the upper ends of lever arms contact the rubber buffers towards the end of the working stroke of the rams, the Shock absorbing properties of the rubber blocks then being suicient to prevent damage to the mechanical parts at the end of the cut, due to the Sudden release of the forces involved.

A projecting portion 48 on the piston rod of one of the cylinders '7 engages a slidable plate 49 which is spr-ing loaded outwardly by the spring 59 towards a limit 51. The foot pedal 52 which operates the air Valve has an arm 53 Which is no'rmally clear of the platel 49 -when the air cylinder is retracted, :but is engaged by the plate 4-9 when the piston rod is extended. The spring 59 then urges the plate 4-9 to contact the stop 51, at which position the air Valve et? is open by an amount suicient to close the clamp 3:? but not sufcient to operate the air cylinders. This is a safety feature which prevents premature release of the clamp.

The above embodiment is illustrative of the invention but it will be seen that the embodiment can be varied For example hydraulic shock absorbers can if desired be fitted to reduce the effect of Sudden inertia forces, or alternatively the blade arms may swing down to contact buffer air cylinders.

While the ernbodiment described relies upon the spring return it will be seen that it is but a simple matter to arrange the pneumatic circuit for air return, and to achieve the pneumtic cushioning in a manner similar to that described above for the spring return machine. Furthermore it will be seen that it is not necessary for the moving blade to 'be swung on the end of a blade arm which is pivoted, but the moving blade could if desired be mounted :direct to slides to conform With the more usual practice.

What I claim is:

1. A pneumatically operated guillotine comprising a frame, pneumatic cylinders on the frame, double acting pistons in said cylinders, a pneumatic pressure source, an a blade on the blade Supporting member, and a fixed guillotine blade on the frame, said air Valve being foot operated to actuate the pistons in the pneumatic cylinders to thereby urge the moving 'blade past the fixed blade.

2. A pneumatically operated guillotine comprising a frame, pneumatic cylinders on the frame, double acting pistons in said cylinders, a pneumatic pressure source, an air Valve 'between the pressure source and the cylinders to supply pressure fluid to the cylinders on one side of the pistons, a throttle Valve in communication with the atmosphere and connected to the cylinders on the other of the sides of the piston whereby the cylinders discharge to the atmosphere via said throttle Valve, a transverse rocker shaft on the frame linked to the pistons in the pneumatic cylinders, a blade Supporting member pivotally mounted on the frame, a pressure Vmultiplying linkage connecting the blade Supporting member with the transverse rocker shaft, a moving guillotine blade on the blade Supporting member, and a fixed guillotine blade on the frame, said air Valve being foot operated to actuate the pistons in the pneumatic cylinders to thereby urge the moving blade past the ifixed blade.

3. A pneumatically operated guillotine comprising a frame, pneumatic cylinders on the frame, double acting pistons in said cylinders, a pneumatic pressure source,

an air Valve between the pressure source and the cylinders to supply pressure fluid to the cylinders on one side of the pistons, a throttle Valve in communication With the atmosphere and connected to the cylinders on the other of the sides of the piston whereby the cylinders discharge to the atmosphere Via said throttle Valve, a blade supporting member :pivotally mounted on the frame, with the pistons in a pressure multiplying linkage connecting the blade Supporting member with the pneumat'ic cylinders, a moving guillotine blade on the blade supporting member, a fixed guillotine blade on the frame, and an air clamp on the frame adjacent to the fixed guiilotine blade, said air Valve being foot operated and c0nnected also to the air clamp to actuate firstly the air clamp and then the pistons in the pneumatic cylinders to thereby urge the moving lade past the fiXed blade after the air clamp is closed.

4. A pneumatically operated guillotine comprising a frame, pneumatic cylinders on the frame, double acting pistons in said cylinders, a pneumatic pressure source, an air Valve between the pressure source and the cylinders to supply pressure fluid to the cylinders on one side of the pistons, a throttle Valve in communication With the atmosphere and connected to the cylinders on the other of the sides of the piston whereby the cylinders discharge to the atmosphere via said throttle Valve, a transverse rocker shaft on the frame, arms on the rocker shaft linked to the pistons in the pneumatic cylinders, a blade Supporting member pivotally mounted on the frame, a pressure multiplying linhage Connecting the blade supporting member with the arms on the transverse rocker shaft, a moving guillotine blade on the blade Supporting member, a fixed guillotine blade on the frame, and an air clamp .on the frame adjacent to the fixed guillotine blade, said air Valve being foot operated and connected to the air clamp to actuate firstly the air clamp and then the pistons in the pneumatic cylinders to thereby urge the moving blade past the fixed blade after the air clamp is closed.

5. A pneumatically operated guillotine comprising a frame, end plates on said frame, a pair of spaced air cylinders mounted on the frame, double acting pistons in said cylinders, a pneumatic pressure source, an air Valve between the pressure source and the cylinders to supply pressure fluid to the cylinders on one side of the pistons, throttle Valve in communication with the atmosphere and connected to the cylinders on the other of the sides of the piston whereby the cylinders discharge to the atmosphere via said throttle Valve, a transversely disposed rocker shaft .between the end plates on the frame, long lever arms on the rocker shaft pivotally connected to the piston rods of the air cylinders, comparatively short arms on the rocker shaft, blade arms pivotally mounted on the frame, a transverse bridge member lbetween the blade arms, links 'between the short arms and the blade arms, said links and the long and short arms constituting a pressure multiplying linkage between the pistons in the pneumatic cylinders and the blade arms, a vfixed guillotine |blade on the frame, and a moving guillotine blade on the transverse member, said air Valve being foot operated to actuate the pneumtaic cylinders to thereby urge the moving blade past the fixed blade.

6. A pneumatically `operated guillotine comprising a frame, air cylinders mounted on the frame, double acting pistons in said cylinders, a pneumatic pressure source, an air Valve between the pressure source `and the cylinders to supply pressure iiuid to the cylinders on one side of the pistons, a throttle Valve in communication -with the atmosphere and connected to the cylinders on the other of the sides of the piston Whereby the cylinders discharge to the atmosphere Via said throttle Valve, blade arms pivotally mounted on the frame, a pressure multiplying linkage vConnecting the blade arms to the air cylinders, a transverse bridge member between the blade arms, a fixed guillotine blade on the frame, a moving guillotine blade on the transverse member, and an expansion tube Ei type air clamp adjacent the fixed guillotine blade, said air Valve being foot operated and connected to the air clarnps to introduce pressure air firstly to the air clamp, secondly to a li'irst air cylinder and thirdly to the second air cylinder.

7. A -pneurnatically operated guillotine comprising a frame, air cylinders mounted on the frame, double acting pistons in said cylinders, a pneumatic pressure source, an air Valve between the .pressure source and the cylinders to supply pressure :fiuid to the cylinders on one side of the pistons, a throttle Valve in communication with the atmosphere and connected to the cylinders on the other of the sides of the piston Whereby the cylinders discharge to the atmosphere Via said throttle Valve, blade arms pivotally mounted on the frame, a pressure multiplying linkage Connecting the -blade arms to the air cylinders, a transverse bridge member between the blade arms, a ixed guillotine blade on the --rame, a moving guillotine blade on the transverse member, and an expansion tube type air clamp adjacent the ttixed guillotine blade, said air Valve being connected to the air clamp and being a foot operated three stage single acting air Valve arranged to introduce pressure air =firstly to the air clamp, secondly to a first air cylinder and thirdly to the second air cylinder, the Valve having an exhaust connected to the other of the sides of the cylinders.

8. A pneumatically operated guillotine comprising a frame, and plates on the frame, a pair of spaced air cylinders mounted on the frame, double acting pistons in said cylinders, a pneumatic pressure source, an air Valve between the pressure source and the cylinders to supply pressure fiuid to the cylinders on one side of the pistons, a throttle Valve in communication With the atmosphere and connected to the cylinders on the other of the sides of the piston Whereby the cylinders discharge to the atmosphere via said throttle Valve, a transversely disposed rocker shaft between the end plates on the frame, long ti lever arms on the rocker pivotally connected to the piston :rods of the air cylinders, comparatively short arms on the rocker shaft, blade arms pivotally mounted on the frame, a transverse bridge member between the blade arrns, links between the short arms and the blade a ris, said links and the long and short arms constituting a pressure multiplying linkage between the pistons in the pneumatic cylinders and the blade arins, a fure guilletine blade on the frame, a moving guillotine blade on the transverse member, an expansion tube type air clamp adjacent the fixed guillotine blade, said air Valve being connected to the air clarnp and being a three stage single acting air Valve arranged to introduce pressure air tirstiy to the air clarnp, secondiy to a first air cylinder and thirdly to the second air cylinder, the Valve having an exhaust connected to the other of the sides of the cylinders.

Reerences Cited by the Examiner UNETED STATES PATENTS 608,195 8/98 Guild 83- 80 968,196 8/10 Reeder 83-460 1,0G4,726 10/11 Barney 137-62512 XR 1,0l5,l64 1/12 Fowden 137-625-l2 XR 1,G5l,381 1/13 Berry 83-639 2,269,328 1/42 Williamson 83-639 2,37-l,4ll 3/45 Rhodes 83 -639 2,397,896 4/46 Wehr 83-5l2 XR 2,400,996 5/46 Iversen 83-639 2,500,627 3/50 Chinn 137-625-12 XR 2,699,649 1/55 Messick 83-38 X t 3,026,755 3/62 Castle 83-380 3,034,389 5/62 Pater 83-624 XR 3,090,270 5/63 Rhodes et al. 83-601 ANDREW R. JUI-IASZ, Primary Examner.

CARL W. TOMLIN, Examner. 

1. A PNEUMATICALLY OPERATED GUILLOTINE COMPRISING A FRAME, PNEUMATIC CYLINDERS ON THE FRAME, DOUBLE ACTING PISTONS IN SAID CYLINDERS, A PNEUMATIC PRESSURE SOURCE, AN AIR VALVE BETWEEN THE PRESSURE SOURCE AND THE CYLINDERS TO SUPPLY PRESSURE FLUID TO THE CYLINDERS ON ONE SIDE OF THE PISTONS, A THROTTLE VALVE IN COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE ATMOSPHERE AND CONNECTED TO THE CYLINDERS ON THE OTHER OF THE SIDES OF THE PISTON WHEREBY THE CYLINDERS DISCHARGE TO THE ATMOSPHERE VIA SAID THROTTLE VALVE, A BLADE SUPPORT- 